Issue 4 - February 2016

T U ES DAY, F EB RUA RY 2, 2016

Whitewashing celebrities

Spotlight on Raves making kandi...

OPINIONS page 5

... and beaded masks...

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

VOLUME 57 NO. 4

Flipside page 12

On Pointe: student commits to full-time ballet schedule

Diagnosis: Senioritis

Sports page 10

The Prospector Tino Dhadkan

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Just one year after its founding, the school’s Bollywood fusion dance team hosts own show SAAGAR SANGHAVI opinions assistant

ALEX SHIEH online assistant

COURTESY OF SD PHOTOGRAPHY

Among the numerous student groups that exist on campus, Tino Dhadkan recently gained momentum as it ascended the stage at its first show, Dil Se. As a bollywood fusion dance club, Tino Dhadkan strives to provide students with an opportunity to experience creative, cultural, and competitive dancing. Despite being its first year as a club, Tino Dhadkan is already soaring to new heights, having performed well at multiple large-scale shows and now preparing to host its own show at school.

The Hindi word “dhadkan,” meaning “heartbeat,” symbolizes the rhythm and movement of the dancers in a unique style that combines traditional and modern pop culture.

“We started the team because there were a lot of Indians [in our community], but I did not feel like there was a place or an opportunity where we could bond together,” senior and copresident Vaibhav Vijaykar said. “We do this through cultural dance, and I think that it definitely attributes to how we perceive Indian culture and heritage.”

The Indian Culture Appreciation Association (ICAA), the circuit that Dhadkan participates in, holds multiple showcases annually, which display teams from around the Bay Area. All the proceeds collected from ticket sales support the India Literacy Project.

In order to make the performances as flawless as possible, the team meets up once a week to practice. However, in times when a showcase is approaching, the team rehearses daily.

“Practices include teaching the choreography, staging, and cleaning, which is making sure everyone is good in all the details,” senior and varsity choreographer Poonam Varkhedi said.

“And we eat oranges. It is a tradition.”

Driven by their passion for heritage and competitive spirit, everyone on the team works intensively to strive for perfection. “[Even as a new team,] we are able to be accepted into many of the large showcases,” senior and co-president Janany Subra said. “This just goes to show how much work our team has put into our performances and how much respect we have for our own culture.”

Tino Dhadkan, continued on page 2

Dil Se | Senior Poonam Varkhedi and sophomore Varsha Varkhedi choreographed a dance the team performed at the Dil Se Indian dance competition at Irvington High School

Obama unveils gun control executive order

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JAY SHROFF online editor

ETHAN QI news assistant

On Jan. 5, President Barack Obama addressed the nation at a town hall event, calling for tighter background checks, gun restrictions, and the enforcement of existing laws concerning gun protection by passing an executive action in an effort to curb the amount of gun violence in the United States.

The President’s action comes after the tragic shooting at a holiday party in San Bernadino, in which 22 people were killed and many others wounded. In 2013, following the Sandy Hook shootings, Congress rejected a bill that would have installed the more stringent background checks on firearm sales that this executive action puts into place.

For the first time on camera, Obama shed tears when talking about the mass shooting at Newtown, Connecticut. “We know we cannot stop every act of violence, every act of evil in the world,” he said. “But maybe we could try to stop one act of evil, one act of violence.”

President Obama’s plan includes background checks for any entity selling or purchasing a gun in an attempt to close the “gun show loophole.”

Said senior Kevin Li, “Obama is taking a step in the right direction because there are many flaws in the industry, such as the gun show loophole.”

Previously, the loophole allowed small gun sellers at expositions or other gun events to sell guns to buyers without completing the required background check for gun-buyers. At the same time, the executive action will make a list of people who cannot own guns, and similar to a “no-fly” list, will be distributed to all gun-sellers in the U.S. Anyone on the list who attempts to buy a gun will be denied purchase. In addition to expanding background checks, Obama said his administration hopes to provide more funding for mental health treatments, FBI staffers, and agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. This would allow for greater enforcement of the regulations that are placed on gun stores and shows and provide more stringent background checks on people that may be a threat with guns.

In California, gun control laws are among the strictest in

Gun action, continued on page 2

Ethan Shen becomes Intel STS semifinalist

COURTESY OF ETHAN SHEN

THE HELM OF DISCOVERY | Ethan works in Stanford University’s Helms Lab

CAROLINE GEE flipside assistant

On Jan. 6, senior Ethan Shen was named a semi-finalist in the 2016 Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) for his research on stem cell regeneration. Shen was one of the 300 semifinalists selected from a pool of more than 1,750 applicants from 512 high schools across the United States, Puerto Rico, and overseas international high schools.

The Intel STS 2016, dubbed the “Nobel Prize” of high school students, is considered as one of the most prestigious science competitions in the world.

Conducting his research at Stanford University, Shen discovered that a certain type of stem cell previously unknown to the scientific

Intel STS, continued on page 2

2

News The Prospector

S TA F F 2015-2016

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVII, No. 4 | 2016 editors-in-chief maithilee kanthi brian zhong news editor meilinda sun opinions editor shalmali patil features editor stephanie shi lifestyles editor isabel lin sports editor peter martin flip side editor melissa silva managing editor daniel fertelmeister copy editors delanie medina anirudh pai photo editors jason muñoz jeremy xue online editors michelle pyke jay shroff

The Prospector

Intel STS

February 2, 2016

Tino Dhadkan

continued from page 1 community has the potential to regenerate bones after injury. Shen hopes to use these findings for important clinical applications in aging, bone recovery, and even in fighting cancer.

Said Shen, “In bone cancers, these stem cells can be overactive, so if we can inhibit the activity of these stem cells, we can control cancer.”

Shen’s entry into lab research first occurred in his sophomore year, when he submitted his resume and cover letter to the Stanford Summer Stars Internship and was admitted into the Helms Lab. One of the youngest students there, Shen was able to conduct research alongside Stanford graduate and postgraduate students.

“I think the best part about working with these people is that I get to have these discussions with them that bring me to the next level of thinking,” Shen said about his colleagues. “Working with them involves this infectious enthusiasm where we would go in and ask, ‘What are we doing today? What experiments can we do today? What can we find today that no one has seen before in history?’”

Shen’s inquisitiveness is not just limited to the laboratory. Said math teacher Mark St. John, who taught Shen during his junior year, “Ethan is an excellent student, and not just as a mathematician. He is really interested in learning and in being able to do something useful.”

Recently, Shen had also been named a regional finalist in the Siemens Competition in math, science, and technology, an achievement that gave him the confidence to apply to the Intel STS. The rigorous application process involved submitting letters of recommendation, grades, SAT scores, and completing a college level research report on his findings. Of the 300 semifinalists, 40 finalists were selected and invited to Washington D.C.. Finalists will present their work to judges, meet with prominent scientists, and compete for more than one million dollars in awards.

Shen plans to continue pursuing research in the future. Said Shen,”I want to become a doctor, so research is always going to be a big part of my life.”

continued from page 1 Unlike many dance teams, Tino Dhadkan incorporates multiple styles, making it unique.

Said Subra, “We are definitely more Bollywood-based than the other teams in our area; however, we still do have a large hip - hop influence.

There is also some influence from Bharatanatyam, which is a classical South Indian Dance. Because two of the leaders are Bharatanatyam dancers, we are a lot tougher on technique and rigidity. But it makes everything look really uniform.”

“I would say my favorite experience on the team was probably right before we went up and performed at

Gun action

continued from page 1 the nation: smaller magazines, stringent bans, and background checks are the norm.

In other states, proponents for gun control have advocated for rules similar to California’s.

Said senior Vivi Kung, “Even if it is a smaller cartridge, [...} a weapon is still a weapon. It does not matter what kind of gun you have - you can still hurt someone.”

While the debate continues to rage on, both Republican and Democratic candidates have considered gun control to be important, and have vowed to change it -- in their own ways. Said Li, “There are drawbacks to both sides of the issue, and to simplify the issue, and to take a stance in one direction or the other would be a gross simplification of it.”

U.S. begins deportation raids for illegal Central American families DELANIE MEDINA copy editor

Said Assistant Principal Geoff Wright, who lived in Guatemala towards the end of the Guatemalan Civil War, “In Nicaragua and El Salvador, the big cartels control entire regions, and I am sure they are making their way into Guatemala.”

The number of people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras living in the U.S. increased from 1.5 million in 2000 to as many as 2.7 million in 2013. More than 1.2 million of them are in the country illegally, according to estimates. In the last two years, more than 100,000 unaccompanied children, and nearly as many small families, have been caught coming into the U.S. along the southern border. Unsurprisingly, many of the migrants are making claims for asylum, saying they have fled for their lives and face being killed if they return to their homes.

Said Wright, “If someone disappeared, their families could go to the government buildings downtown to look through books of photos of people who had been found in ditches and see if

news assistants

ethan qi amy zeng

opinions assistants

sudarshan kannan saagar sanghavi

features assistants

josephine robinson erin song

lifestyles assistants

aishwarya laddha jennifer zaratan

sports assistants

rishi nair mark wang

flip side assistant

caroline gee

The Department of Homeland Security has turned its focus toward the migrants from Central America who were apprehended in May 2014 after crossing the southern border illegally. As of Thursday, Jan. 7, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had deported 77 of 122 families.

The flow of migrants from Mexico to the United States has declined in recent years, but immigration from countries in Central America has rapidly increased due largely in part to the increase in crime in the “Northern Triangle”, which consists of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, nearly 10 percent of the triangle’s 30 million residents fled their homes over the past decade. Authorities in El Salvador blame most the high crime rates on gangs involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and other criminal activity.

allison lo lily marvin alex shieh

The Main Street controversy

business manager mark wang

online assistants photo crew

catherine seok adviser ann peck

With new developments already underway, school staff and the community prepare to deal with heavy traffic and other challenges brought on by construction

Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

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our first show,” Vijaykar said. “We did a Tino cheer before, and it was a really good moment because I could see everyone was really excited for what they were doing. It was just a moment of unity and teamwork.”

With the school ready to host its first-ever show, Duniya, in the upcoming month, members of the team are working tirelessly to put on a good performance.

Said Subra, “I’m really excited for our show, and [everyone] should come. It is going to be really good.

This is the first time Tino has really done anything like this, so it is going to be a debut for everyone.”

PHOTO BY MAITHILEE KANTHI

PAIN STREET | A worker stands outside Main Street protesting the new developments in the plaza, particularily Philz Coffee, which opened in late December of 2015.

they could identify anyone.”

Congressional Democrats are circulating a petition urging President Obama to extend temporary amnesty to more than a million illegal immigrants from Central America, saying the violence in their home countries makes it too dangerous to continue to forcibly send them back. The petition asks the president to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to Central Americans. TPS is usually granted in catastrophes such as natural disasters or war, and provides temporary legal status, work permits, and access to some benefits.

In a letter to President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Bernie Sanders echoed congressional Democrats by urging them to declare Central America unsafe and to allow people from the region to stay and work in the United States.

Said Sanders, “I urge you to immediately end these raids and not deport families back to countries where a death sentence awaits”.

ALLISON LO online assistant

CATHERINE SEOK photo assistant

Starting with the opening of Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar last November, Sand Hill’s development of Main Street Cupertino has begun to urbanize the city by creating a central place for the community to gather. Due to the traffic complications it causes for daily commuters, the construction is a controversial development in Cupertino.

One benefit that Main Street offers is its variety of food options for students and staff. Two vendors, Philz Coffee and Pieology, have already opened, and other retailers like Target, 85°C Bakery, and Oren’s Hummus are expected to open soon. These places are all easily accessible as they are within a five minute walk from school.

Said Assistant Principal Andy Walczak, “I am all for places kids can hang out and have more food options. Especially for freshmen and sophomores because they do not drive, so that opens up more places for students to go.”

Additionally, the vendors’ services are fast enough that they are able to accommodate students who are short on time. With bars like Rootstock and Lazy Dog as well as family-friendly restaurants available, Main Street Cupertino appeals

Main Street, continued on page 3

CLINICAL FAILURE

NEWS BRIEFS

A clinical trial conducted in France for a painkiller meant to treat anxiety and motor disorders left one man dead and five others hospitalized. Participants were given the drug by Bial, a Portuguese pharmaceutical company.

NINTH PLANET

News

The Prospector

February 2, 2016

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology discovered evidence suggesting the presence of a ninth planet in the solar system. Though the planet has not yet been observed, it is estimated that “Planet Nine” has a mass about 10 times that of Earth.

INDONESIA

On Jan. 14, a series of attacks injured twenty people in Jakarta, Indonesia. Following the attack, ISIS claimed responsibility and 12 people were arrested in connection with the event.

ALAN RICKMAN

English actor Alan Rickman, best known for his roles as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard, passed away on Jan. 14 at 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Rima Horton.

Main Street

continued from page 2

PERIODIC TABLE

Four elements discovered by researchers in the United States, Russia, and Japan have been added to the periodic table of elements. The new superheavy elements were created by shooting nuclei and exist for only fractions of a second.

TAIWAN: ELECTIONS

Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, became Taiwan’s first female president on Jan. 16. Her election marks the end of eight years of governance under the pro-China Nationalist Party.

COMPILED BY STEPHANIE SHI

ASB launches temporary action committee TAC provides a platform for short-term student advocacy PETER MARTIN sports editor

On Jan. 21, the Associated Student Body (ASB) created a new category of clubs, tentatively named Temporary Action Committees (TAC), in response to the influx of single issue clubs seeking approval.

Said Clubs Commissioner Lauren Chan, “Clubs [that] have very specific types of goals require fundraising for all these different organizations and different global issues, so we were worried that [the clubs] might not be able to sustain themselves for the entire school year.”

The goal of TACs is to allow for clubs with a narrow or time-sensitive goal, such as fundraisers or events, to have brief club status and then disband once they have completed their objective. These organizations value club status as it allows access to a schoolissued account and other resources.

“ASB would help them in promoting and execut-

3

ing this one-day, school-wide event where they can fundraise or spread awareness for their specific issue,” Chan said.

Chan used the example of Operation Smile, a club proposed to promote the awareness of and fundraise for the issue of cleft lip overseas.

Said Chan, “We were concerned that since the club has one specific goal on one specific issue, [Operation Smile] might not be able to sustain itself for an entire school year, and that maybe after a couple months it might run out of things to do or new ideas.”

While somewhat similar to the club application, the TAC application will focus more on the creators’ goals, focus, passion, and the club’s impact on the school. Several organizations from this semester’s club screening, such as Operation Smile, Team HBV, and Liberty in North Korea, have been made into Temporary Action Committees and will serve to test the value of this new system.

to children and adults alike. Furthermore, Main Street Cupertino provides open spaces for community members to relax and hang out. People have the opportunity to bring their pets, spend time with friends and family, or find a quiet place to be alone.

Main Street does, however, have a few drawbacks. Navigating can be difficult for drivers, as the intersection in front of Main Street Cupertino’s main entrance does not allow drivers to enter straight from Finch Ave.. The poor placement of entrances and exits makes detours necessary and creates inconveniences for drivers. Many students also contend that the design and location of Main Street, along with the increase in business, only adds to the traffic congestion on Finch Ave. in the mornings and after school. The influx of cars and foot traffic could pose hazards to bikers and pedestrians traveling to and from school, as the increased amount of traffic puts them at a higher risk of being involved in accidents.

Said junior Edith Liu, “Downtown Cupertino might be a good idea, but then again, their choice of location may not be the best. In the mornings and after school there is already a lot of traffic and the addition of Main Street will [worsen the current situation]” Some construction workers have also voiced their grievances against the new development. Since December, workers employed by Oakstone Construction, Inc. have been protesting outside Philz Coffee in Main Street to demand better work conditions. These protestors have been trying to gain the support of drivers and passersby by handing out flyers.

Overall, Cupertino’s transformation from a primarily-residential area to a commercially-focused area bears both positive and negative impacts on the community.

Despite the emerging complications of Main Street Cupertino, the new shops have mostly been well-received by students and staff. Only time will tell if Main Street will live up to the expectations of the city.

Opinions

4

Feburary 2, 2016

THE DANGERS OF FRANCE’S MODEL LAW SHALMALI PATIL opinions editor

France recently joined Israel, Italy, and Spain when the French government passed a bill that banned the use of “unreasonably thin” models on its runways with the intentions of discouraging and eventually putting an end to mental illnesses such as bulimia and anorexia. In order for a model to be able to participate in runways, he or she must present a certificate from a medical professional that claims that the model is of a healthy size. The French legislation requires that the certificate verifies that the participating model has a BMI (Body Mass Index) of at least 18 in order to be considered “healthy to work.”

The bill also requires any electronically manipulated photograph in which a model is slimmed or widened to be labeled as “touched up.” Not complying with this law would result in a hefty fine and possibly jail time for any agency that employs underweight models.

The first issue with this law is that it is reliant on the BMI system, which is an overwhelmingly distorted system of measuring health. Despite what BMI calculators imply, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders agrees that someone below or above the “healthy” BMI of 18 can most definitely still be of a healthy weight. The notion that eating disorders can be chalked up to what a BMI calculator says is naive and harmful. It is dangerous to perpetuate the idea that “only skinny people are anorexic.”

Anyone of any size can have an eating disorder

even if they might not outwardly appear to fit the common perceptions of some with an eating disorder. Determining whether someone has developed unhealthy eating habits has to be coupled with evaluations of common side effects of anorexia and bulimia, such as hair loss, poor reproductive health and dental issues.

Through passing this law, France is not only shaming those with eating disorders but also stereotyping and criminalizing a group of people with severe mental disorders. The sort of response such a group needs is not further ostracization, but rather support and guidance.

A false belief that eating disorders are caused by seeing thin models guided the French government to put this law into action; however, this is which is a one-sided and incomprehensive understanding of a complex illness.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia were first discovered in the 1800’s, when the ideal body type for women was significantly more full-figured. Therefore, drawing a clear and direct connection between the use of certain models and eating disorders is wistfully and obtusely simplified. Although present-day standards of beauty have changed and the pressure to adhere to them has increased, the fact remains that mental health is complicated. And eating disorders often result from several very different factors and each pairing of factors is different from person to person. The factors that can cause eating disorders include stress, loneliness, feelings of helplessness, troubled relationships, a history of abuse, and biological factors and all of these are completely unrelated

SUDARSHAN KANNAN opinions assistant

Following the November Paris attacks, Muslim-Americans have unfairly faced an increase in negative attention from various political groups, with a spike in hate crimes, governmental policies discriminating against Muslims, and an overall misunderstanding of their community.

Commonly cited among Americans is the fear of “Sharia law,” a form of theological Islamic rule commonly found in many Middle Eastern nations. Realistically, Sharia law is unlikely to ever happen in the United States, given that Muslims comprise less than one percent of the American population, and by 2050, are expected to only rise up to 2.1 percent, according to a Pew Research study. Numerically, the idea of the United States being “overrun by Sharia law radicals” is simply unfounded. Furthermore, American-Muslims are very different, socio-economically and ideologically than foreign Muslims associated with Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, Muslim-Americans’ religious habits tend to be rather similar to those of Christian-Americans. 70 percent of Muslim-Americans state that religion is “very important in their lives”, compared to 69 percent of Christians answering the same question. When it comes to the role of religion in their

to models in the media.

Obsessive compulsive disorder, It is naive for France to assume that depression, aniexty and other promoting a certain BMI will immediately mood disorders are associated result in overall healthy eating habits eswith eating disorders. pecially because in many cases, it will have COURTESY OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH an opposite effect. This law is encouraging models who do not meet the BMI standard to gain weight in order to work and make a living. When one’s livelihood is dependent on The rate of eating disorsuch a misguided standard, it would be corders is increasing in rect to assume that models can and will ennon-Western cultures. gage in very unhealthy methods of making COURTESY OF ANRED sure that the gain weight “in the right places” thus furthering unhealthy approaches to gaining weight. Models, whose livelihood is entirely dependent on their appearance, may feel 2% - 5% of the American compelled to use fat injections and develop population suffers from other harmful types of eating disorders such binge-eating disorder. as binge-eating disorder, a mental illness that COURTESY OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH affects more people than anorexia and bulimia do combined.

While well-intentioned French officials may have hoped to end eating disorders in the Eating disorders have roots fashion industry, the law has inadvertently in genetics, media coverage, perpetuated a sense of hostility among those biochemistry and other mental it affects. France and other countries should disorders. offer programs to help treat mental illness as COURTESY OF PAMF opposed making them crimes. By rejecting one standard of beauty in place of another one, France is simply fueling a cycle of unhealthy chasing of certain beauty standards. By narOnly 10% of people suffering rowing and streamlining mental health, with eating disorders receive France is only discriminating against people treatment. who are suffering from eating disorders and COUTESY OF SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH making mental illness a punishable crime.

lives, Christians, the largest religious group in the country, and Muslims may not, in fact, be that different, thus demonstrating that the barriers that divide the two religious groups are not as rigid as Americans currently believe.

Like many religious and spiritual organizations, community mosques often spearhead charity efforts to aid the less fortunate.

In fact, one of the Five Pillars of Islam is to give charity, known as “zakat.” Furthermore, “jihad,” the commonly cited motivation for acts of terror by ISIS and other terrorist groups, is not necessarily the “holy war to destroy the infidels”. Rather, according to prominent Egyptian-American Islamic scholar Maher Hathout, “jihad”, as mentioned in the Koran, is the exertion of effort to change oneself or, if absolutely necessary, to physically defend Islam against oppression. Following the San Bernardino shootings, the Baitul Hameed Mosque of San Bernardino organized a vigil in memory of the victims, denouncing the violence committed earlier. Despite most Muslims’ obvious disapproval of such violence, hate crimes against Muslims tripled in the United States, with assaults on Muslims wearing hijabs, vandalism of mosques, and threats and violence against Muslim store owners.

While fear of homegrown terrorists and other radicalized Muslims is perfectly relevant and a valid concern, labeling Muslim-Americans as a whole as “terrorists” is largely inaccurate and rather offensive. Muslim Americans are quite opposite from the terrorists and “radicals” that Donald Trump and other right-wing

Islamaphobia

politicians portray them to be. According to a 2011 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, less than one percent of Muslims in the United States consider suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets, the modus operandi of terrorists, as justified to defend Islam from its enemies. To a large extent, the Muslim-American community is key in detecting terror plots before they cause 9/11-esque damage. A Duke University study found that more potential terrorist plots were brought to the attention of authorities by Muslims, rather than these plots being discovered by law enforcement. Clearly, the Muslim community has played an active role in preventing terrorist attacks, given that only fifty people have died from Muslim-American terrorist attacks in the 13 years prior to the San Bernardino attacks. Compare this to the number of victims of mass shootings in the last year, 136, and it is clear that Muslim-American terrorism is much less of a threat to national security than are mass shootings. The current misconception of the inhumanity of Muslim-Americans is not only incorrect, but also vastly unfounded.

In conclusion, the vast majority of Muslims are neither terrorists nor radical extremists with the intention of putting an end to American society as we know it. Rather, most of them are perfectly ordinary members of society. Allowing such prejudices to continue only hinders progress and violates real American values, such as equality and freedom of religion.

misconceptions cloud reality

Opinions

The Prospector

February 2, 2016

MEILINDA SUN news editor

Along with another set of Leonardo DiCaprio memes recently released was the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, Twitter’s protest in response to the lack of diversity in the nominees for the Academy Awards. With most nominee’s being white and male, the Oscars are a manifestation of the everyday film industry. The trend of casting white actors to play characters intended to be people of color is known as whitewashing. Most recently, the film Aloha featured a mixed-race pilot, who was played by the white Emma Stone. The film Exodus: Gods and Kings featured majority white actors instead of actors of Middle Eastern or North African descent. Avatar: The Last Airbender, was meant to depict the diversity of Asian countries, but overwhelmingly cast white actors instead.

To preface, most would agree that Emma Stone—and the other actors in the said films—are indeed talented. The concern with Aloha and many other Hollywood films has nothing to do with Emma Stone herself, her acting, skin tone, or personality. Similarly, the misrepresentation of culture and diversity in Hollywood is not harmful because it is “offensive.” Instead, on a practical level, whitewashing is harmful because it’s lazy—it fails to accurately portray diversity and misrepresents ethnic cultures—all of which deserve more than a patronizing caricature representation. When a director casts a white actor to play a character meant to be non-white, the film becomes inaccurate. Directors perpetuate the general lack of diversity in films

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by whitewashing intentionally ethnic characters.

There is a general lack of diversity in Hollywood. The University of Southern California’s School for Communication and Journalism found in 2014 that 73.1% of actors were white, 12.5% were black, 4.9% were Hispanic, and 5.3% were Asian. The lack of numbers in general makes casting people of color more difficult. However, diversity in films should change in tandem with the racial landscape in America: as America becomes more diverse, so too, must its films.

The second and more harmful reason for whitewashing is that directors believe white actors are more appealing. In the age of globalization, Hollywood films go abroad; The Motion Picture Association of America finds that 70 percent of film studios’ revenue is made overseas. As CNN’s Roland Martin notes, many producers operate under the assumption that films featuring black actors will not sell abroad, and that films with lead roles belonging to blacks are not “marketable”. Films therefore perpetuate this “preference,” and continue casting overwhelmingly white actors.

When films do cast nonwhite actors, they often receive minor roles—the sidekick or the villain—while the main characters are white.

Such cases of whitewashing and misrepresentation reveal Hollywood’s blatant diversity problem, and while the solution should not be a quasi affirmative-action program for selecting actors and actresses, pressure can be put on the industry to change their ways and include actors of different races. American films should look like America—they must reflect the vibrancy of the diversity the country offers by equally featuring people of color as well as whites.

white washing celebrities TAMP-ON, TAX-OFF ERIN SONG features assistant

Every month, women everywhere are given the honor of experiencing an entire week of cramps, blood, and overall misery via the natural female body process more commonly known as the menstruation cycle. However, nature’s gift to the female sex does not come without a heavy price. Slowly but steadily, the notorious tampon tax has edged its way into becoming a topic of discussion and controversy.

Contrary to its alliterative name, the “tampon tax” is not a gratuity that exclusively applies to tampons, but rather refers to the standard sales tax enacted on all products related to a woman’s favorite time of the month, including sanitary napkins, liners, and tampons. Depending on the sales tax rates of the state, women could pay as much as an additional 9% for their various menstrual sanitation products. Sarah Larimer’s article on the Washington Post cites that only five states (Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) exempt female sanitation products from taxation; an additional five states do not tax the products simply because they do not do not issue sales taxes in the first place. The International Business Times reports that Californian women pay an average of $7 per month for taxes on female sanitary products alone.

Of the many problems that arise from this tax, the most obvious issue lies in the fact that the tampon tax exclusively charges women for their own natural bodily functions. As if paying $70 per year in feminine products was not enough of a financial woe, society seems to deem it necessary to tax all women who purchase products necessary to maintain their periods, while “necessary” items such as dry cleaning, circus tickets, and wine tasting are exempt from sales taxes by the

Hungary has a “tampon tax” of 27%, which makes it the country with the highest VAT (Value-Added Tax).

Greece follows with a tax of 23% on all feminine hygeine products. Other countries with high tampon taxes include Italy (22%), France (20%) and Germany (19%).

COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

federal government.

Not only does the tampon tax indirectly contribute to the institutionalization of sexism, but it especially places lower income women at a severe disadvantage. Since female hygiene products are considered luxury items, poorer women are not able to use federal assistance or welfare benefits on female sanitary products, nor can they include female sanitary products in tax deductible medical expenses. Homeless women struggle especially in finding menstrual hygiene care due to the lack of access to safe sanitary spaces such as toilets and showers.

Surprisingly, governments across the nation have justified their implementation of the tampon tax by declaring female sanitation products “luxury goods”. The British government, for example, stated that while all citizens must pay the value added taxes (VATs) enacted on products, certain products labeled as “essential products” are exempt from the VAT. The list of essential products exempt from the VAT includes edible cake decorations, houseboat moorings, and crocodile meat, so it is safe the say that the British parliament is in dire need of reevaluation of what constitutes an “essential product”. Despite what government officials claim, the menstruation cycle and the feminine products that come with it are not a choice. Until the government finds a woman who finds her period a luxury, it should not label female sanitary products as such.

Although the tampon tax is undoubtedly a widely debated issue, it remains scarcely addressed by apathetic onlookers, primarily because menstruation remains a taboo topic of discussion in many forms of society. As uncomfortable as the subject is to some, menstruation is a natural process that affects a majority of the female population, and refusing to address it as such prevents progress from these blatantly sexist policies.

Women in California pay approximately $7 per month for feminine products, which totals to 20 million dollars in taxes anually.

COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

Tampon taxes in the United States are between 4% - 9% depending on the state.

COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

Putting an end to the tampon tax could help put an end to the wage gap between men and women.

COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

Only 5 states waive taxes on sanitary goods, and 5 other states do not impose any sales tax.

COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

The tax mainly affects those of a lower socioeconomic status.

COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

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Features

February 2, 2016

THE EVOLUTION OF RAVE CULTURE

JEREMY XUE photo editor

Many students have seen pictures of sweat drenched, scantily-clad friends at raves on social media. But when—and how did it all begin?

Rave Culture Rave culture has evolved tremendously over the years, especially here within the Bay Area. The “old-school” warehouse raves of the United Kingdom in the 1950’s and 1960’s, were characterized by wild parties of iconoclastic youth enjoying the rock and pop music of the time. The next step in the evolution of raves towards the more “modern” definition of a rave was with the birth of “Techno” and “House” music in the 80’s, which brought raves overseas and onto American soil. As a result, the rave scene of the Bay Area exploded in San Francisco during the early 1990’s with multiple sub-genres of electronic dance music becoming popularized and shaped into a defining characteristic of the Bay Area. Over time, a generational gap between these 90’s ravers and today’s ravers developed with the birth of modern, commercialized raves and a changing culture surrounding the “PLUR” mentality. While many such events are restricted to those over the age of 18 or even 21, a considerable number of raves have begun allowing 16-year-old students to attend. As a result, the rave scene has become increasingly adopted within the high school and college aged students.

Said one student raver, “I went to my first rave in 2013, but I did not know anyone else from my school that raved. Today though, I run into a lot of my friends. I feel like going to raves in high school is a much more recent trend.”

This increase in popularity can not only be attributed to drug culture (particularly drugs like MDMA or “Molly”) among teens, but also to the rise in popularity of mainstream Electronic Dance Music (EDM). Thus, any ravegoers either attend because they are fans of famous headlining artists such as Porter Robinson, The Weeknd, and Odesza, the opportunity to partake in the “PLUR” culture with their peers, or more often, a combination of the two.

Drug Safety While raves themselves are legal, the drugs that often are associated with them are not. Individuals can choose to go to raves without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but such substances are heavily ingrained in rave culture. Partaking in the consumption of drugs at a rave is dubbed “rolling” by rave-goers. The most common club drug used by ravers is MDMA, nicknamed “Molly”, which is often found in combination with other drugs in the form of Ecstasy. These drugs are known to have multiple side effects including a feeling of euphoria and heightened emotional activity. In conjunction with loud music and large crowds of ravers under similar influences, a vibe of acceptance and community is created, a large driving force for individuals to attend raves.

Within the student body, there exists stigma surrounding students who attend raves. Because of their association with drug use, many students view their peers who attend raves n a negative light.

Said one raver, “I think the stigma will probably start to die down slowly, but there will always be the naive people who look down on raves because a majority of ravers are drug users.”

Those who do choose to do drugs or “roll” at raves are encouraged to exercise caution and research the effects and potential health risks of MDMA and other “club drugs”. Such information can be found on resources such as rollsafe.org.

Said another raver, “It is important to have a group of friends who can keep an eye on you to make sure that you are handling everything okay. It is an amazing experience but it is important to understand the risks involved and educate yourself beforehand.”

One time I was dancing, and this really attractive guy came up to me and asked if he could dance on me. I assumed he was asking to grind, so I said, “no thanks, I am just dancing alone right now.” he looked surprised and then told me that that Is not what he meant at all. he SAID, “I don’t want to grind. dancing with someone to me is just being in their presence, I am asking for permission of your company, it is my favorite artist and you are beautiful. I just really want to experience this moment with you.”

WOBBLELAND (FEB Annual rave that takes p Lineup includes artists s Doctor P and C

SUPER CITY 50 EDM Festival in San Jose. such as The Chainsmoke Aless

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JOSEPHINE ROBINSON features assistant

A line stretches halfway down the city block, ravers dressed in clothing that stands out like a sore thumb from rest of the people in the city. As the mass of people shuffle into event centers like the San Jose Civic Center, their anticipation grows. “You can hear the JASO music before you even enter the event center [...] you can feel N MUÑOZ the bass in your feet and going up your legs. It makes you that much more excited to go in,” said a raver who asked to be left anonymous.

Once the rave goers get past security and enter the venue, they are greeted by the thunderous sound of thousands of people gearing up for a long night in the hall. Said the raver, “When I got to the stage where the DJ is, the vibrations from the speakers got more intense and the music was so loud that I can’t even hear my friends.”

Though some people consider EDM as “just noise”, the differences between the genres of EDM music are significant. The three main genres that are played at Bay Area raves are trance, dubstep, and trap. At raves, the different kinds of music play into one another, creating an atmosphere of escapism and charged excitement. While trap and dubstep both have fast tempos, trap music is often accompanied by vocals, while dubstep usually focuses on a prominent bass track. Trance music, on the other hand, is more light and uplifting.

Many ravers also say they can feel the music. Said another raver who asked to remain anonymous, “The music completely surrounds you. You can feel the bass and when the beat drops, it feels like a roller coaster of sound.”

DJs at raves rarely ever just play a pre-mixed set. One after the other, they play their own tracks or remixes for the crowd. Raves are often described as a collaborative flow between audience and DJ, with one responding to the other.

TIMELINE

RAVES IN T GIVE THANKS (THANKSG An annual rave that take Thanksgiving weekend. artists such as 3LAU, Aud Mat Z

3PM: MEET UP WITH FRIENDS

5PM: LAST MINUTE KANDI

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n. a party or event attended people, involving dancing t *Students interviewed in these articles to the nature of

6:15PM: REALIZE YOU LOOK AWESOME; TAKE SELFIES AND POST TO YOUR SNAPCHAT STORY

COMPILED BY JASON MUÑOZ

4pm: TIME FOR MAKEUP!

6PM: PANIC ABOUT YOUR OUTFIT CHOICES

7PM: Arrive at venue

Features

The Prospector

February 2, 2016

PLUR: the RAVE COMMUNITY JASON MUÑOZ photo editor

THE BAY GIVING WEEKEND) (16+) es place in San Jose on 2015 Lineup included dien, Bingo Players and Zo.

B 26-FEB 28) (16+) place in San Jose. 2016 such as Andrew Luce, Coyote Kisses.

(FEB 2) (18+) . Lineup includes artists ers, Diplo, Showte and so.

COMPILED BY JEREMY XUE

Peace; two people with their arms covered in beaded bracelet, each put out a peace sign and touch hands. Love; the two hands are arched to make one heart. Unity, the two hands are clasped. Respect; each takes a Kandi bracelet off their arm and trades it with their fellow raver. These values, often shortened to the acronym PLUR, form the cornerstone of modern rave culture.

Many ravers will find that PLUR is not only something mentioned when exchanging Kandi. “I have never experienced such a sense of community before. People yell compliments at each other, girls always come up to me screaming about how pretty I look, you can make friends with someone without saying anything. Everyone is a hugger,” an anonymous student said.

There are many ways for ravers to connect with each other.

Said another anonymous student, “You meet people everywhere. Sometimes you’ll be dancing and random people will come up to you and just hang out and dance. When you sit in the smoking section it’s just a bunch of people talking to each other and mixing groups because everyone is so outgoing. We also get a ton of Instagram followers so you can remember some of the friends you made.”

Each rave is an experience, and ravers enjoy the sense of community they attain through their shared interests. “It is easy to talk to anyone because you

i ngs t s i l t n e v e p u g ki n

know immediately that you have something in common with them, since everyone loves the music and everyone is so excited about everything. From there it is not awkward and you make friends with someone in a second. Meeting all the new people is definitely the coolest part,” an anonymous alumnus said.

However, the heart of the events remains on the dance floor, another avenue to make new friends, or more likely, a place to stay with one’s friends.

“Sometimes people do come up to you while you are dancing and try to talk to you, but it is really loud so you cannot really hear them. Sometimes they do stick around we make friends with them, but usually I just take one of my friends dancing with me and we just hang out near each other the whole time,” another student said.

Due to their young age, many high school ravers steadfastly enforce the “buddy system”, a system in which two friends stay together throughout the entire event—no exceptions.

“The buddy system is something we do not mess around with. It is serious. If your friend wants to get water, you go with them. If they need to use the bathroom, you go with them. That also extends to keeping creepy guys away from them, and getting your buddy out of a situation if they seem uncomfortable. There are a lot of cool people around, but there are also some creepy people too so especially for people as young as us, it is important for someone to have your back,” an anonymous alumnus said.

Ultimately, raves are a way for people to bond. Whether it’s two old friends becoming closer from a shared experience, or new friends altogether, connections are made at raves. There’s music, lights and dancing, but most of all there’s PLUR.

peace, love, unity, respect

One time, when I was in the halls, I made eye contact with this completely random guy, and we ran up to each other and hugged. it was the best feeling because we were in such a loving environment.

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by large numbers of young to fast, electronic music have chosen to remain anonymous due the rave scene.

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my friend and I were trading Kandi with these girls we met at a rave. one of them turns to me and she gives me this really pretty yellow Kandi that said ‘Sun’ on it. She told me she gave it to me because me my personality was bright and happy, like the sun.

KANDIGEAR.CO

features assistant

Many ravers put hours of planning and preparation into what they want to wear at raves. Said an anonymous raver, “I think spending time to put together an outfit is worth it because raves are truly a place where I can wear whatever I want without being judged.”

When deciding what to wear, ravers often turn to the internet for ideas. Said another raver, “I get a lot of my outfit ideas from Instagram. I look at what other ravers wear, and if I see a top or bottom I like, I incorporate it in my next rave outfit.”

As rave culture promotes self-expression and individuality, attendees often go all-out in their presentation. Said a raver who asked to be left anonymous, “It takes me about an hour or so to get ready for raves. For raves I usually go over the top for my makeup. I use bright eyeshadow colors, long false eyelashes, and makeup gems on my face. My friends and I [go all out] because it is fun and a chance to wear anything we want.”

In the spirit of self-expression, ravers often dress up as cartoon characters. Said a raver, “In a way, it is almost like Halloween. I have seen people dressed up as Pokemon characters or unicorns. Once I even saw this guy dressed up as Jesus. He calls himself PLUR Jesus. He’s a rave celebrity in the Bay Area–a lot of ravers have heard about him and taken pictures with him.”

Most ravers you see at an event wear beaded bracelets, or “kandi.” Other beaded accessories include beaded cuffs or beaded masks. Said a raver, “I like wearing a lot of kandi because I like trading them with other people. Getting kandi from other people is like getting a souvenir from the event.”

More often than not, ravers make their own kandi before the event, which can be a time-consuming task. Said another raver, “Making kandi can be a little boring, but it is worth it.

The kandi I make usually has a rave-related word or saying on it, like ‘PLUR’ or ‘I wub you.’ Usually I like to wear 20 on each arm, and since I don’t like giving away the ones I received from other people, I make new ones before every event.”

There is a lot of time spent choosing rave apparel as well as getting ready before the event. Rules and limitations do not apply when it comes to what raves wear, making it a safe place where people can freely express themselves through their clothing.

3AM: ARRIVE AT HOME, TIRED BUT SATISFIED

7:15PM: Make friends in lIne; the hype intensifies

e latE—time to wait in line

THE OUTFITS

JOSEPHINE ROBINSON

8PM-2AM: Finally in! Rage hard!

THE NEXT MORNING: START PLANNING FOR YOUR NEXT RAVE

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Lifestyles

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February 2, 2016

ALL ABOUT TEA

valentine’s day

YOUR QUALI-TEA GUIDE TO TEA

activities for singles

types of tea

MICHELLE PYKE online editor

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picnic at a park Each person brings a dish to serve at the picnic (something as simple as sandwiches or a rich plate of pasta). Be sure to check the weather before heading out (or at least be certain that there is some cover while you eat).

host a spa day You can either set up an appointment at a professional spa place or buy ingredients for a more casual affair. Manicures and facials are the perfect way to spend a day appreciating the benefits of being single.

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Each person brings a bag of ingredients that will be handed off to another person. The items within each bag are the only ones that can be used to make a meal. Once everyone finishes cooking, a few taste testers can try each dish and award the winning one a prize (a gift ranging from desserts to books or maybe even cash).

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day trip to sf

oolong

delicate flavor & fragant, sweet taste

natural flavor & fuller-body flavor toasted, grassy & floral, smooth taste taste

10 mg caffeine per cup

20 mg caffeine per cup

30 mg caffeine per cup

black bold, strong flavor & rich taste 40 mg caffeine per cup

bold-flavored lightly-flavored mild-flavored wide range of foods e.g. chocofoods eg. cufoods e.g. foods e.g. lobster, cumber salads & chicken salad, grilled meat, pas- late cake, red meat, spicy mildly seasoned smoked salmon, tries, & sweets dishes seafood & fruit salad

DID YOU KNOW?

All types of pure tea—white, green, oolong, and black—come from the Camellia sinensis plant.

The differences among teas arise from the length of oxidation, or browning, of the tea leaves.

COMPILED BY ISABEL LIN

There are a wide variety of quirky shops to check out beforehand (including individual boutiques like Hawthorn). You might as well eat lunch at a cafe or restaurant (such as pita wraps at Souvla or something with a French twist at Brenda’s French Soul Food).

youtube challenges You know all of those videos of youtubers stuffing their mouths with marshmallows and trying different types of oreo cookies?

Why let them have all the fun? Gather a group of your friends and try some popular challenges currently trending on YouTube (keep it safe though kids).

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green

FOOD PAIRINGS

Remember all of those beautiful Pinterest pictures saved on your phone? Why not put your artistic skills to the test for once instead of salivating over their pixelated forms? Invite friends over to make that poster you’ve always wanted or bake that chocolate cake from your wildest dreams (no Taylor Swift, you are not invited).

iron chef night

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Being single can be burdensome when couples seem to appear out of nowhere every possible second of the day. In order to escape the aroma of love in the air, why not put yourself in complete isolation?

Just kidding, but walking along trails in the middle of the forest is the closest you are going to get to finding that peace. Check out some beautiful spots like Joaquin Miller Park!

netflix for singles Worst comes to worst, you’ll find yourself staying at home.

But do not fear, Netflix is here! Grab a bowl of ice cream or two and binge watch to your heart’s galore (no shame in watching hours of #relationshipgoals).

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league OF legends A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE

OF A LEAGUE PLAYER

BRIAN ZHONG editor-in-chief

The two teams survey the map and debate about the best way to dismantle the opponent’s defenses. Players shout rapid-fire instructions into their headsets, scrambling to accumulate gold coins and develop a winning strategy.

Senior Mark Siano undergoes this sequence of events every time he boots up his League of Legends game. The game differs from other online games in its emphasis on creativity and teamwork.

Said Siano, “League of Legends is not a typical fighting game, in which there are two players and you try to kill the other. There are a lot of nuances, and it really rewards creative thinking and strategy.”

Armed with the heightened damage the team has gathered already, the players prepare to destroy the turrets, barriers that prevent them from advancing in the game. The players disagree, however, over whether to destroy the turrets right now or wait for a more opportune time. Despite the discord, effective teams work out their differences and execute the strategy they ultimately agree on.

Said Siano, “If you are playing with a friend you met online, you might have different opinions on what you should do at a certain point in the game. Disagreement can be a big problem, so an important part of the game is compromising and communicating with your team.”

Cooperation can nevertheless result in the unwanted outcome: losing the round and con-

ceding defeat to the opponent. In times of defeat, players’ innate sense of competition can get the better of them.

“People get super mad when they lose, especially when they did well and their teammates did poorly,” Siano said. “They often blame their teammates. It is important that when you play with your friends, you do not get mad at them or blame them for making a misplay because that could ruin friendships.”

Although senior Agnes Jang endured several frustrating losses as a novice, she improved her game by adapting the techniques of other, more experienced players. “It is like a sport, in which you play against people who are better than you and you just learn from them,” Jang said. “One of the skills I picked up was baiting people—when you are about to die and are near your turret, you walk near your opponent and you run away. I would pull them into the turret and kill them.”

The ebb and flow of the game can discourage impatient players, especially those who recently began playing. However, surmounting those obstacles can reap benefits that can translate into their daily lives.

Said Siano, “That mentality of not blaming your teammates and your friends and taking control of your situation has manifested itself in my life. During group projects, I do not focus on when people are not doing the necessary work; I know that the only thing that will affect my success is what I do.”

Lifestyles

The Prospector

February 2, 2016

PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON

ANIRUDH PAI

female + minority comedians OR NOAH V E

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copy editor

AMY ZENG news assistant

Y KALI D N IN

multiple roles on the big screen and two bestselling Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are both novels. Aziz Ansari, widely known for his role as powerful female comedians, each with Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, a bestselling book, popular televihas branched out with his critision series – 30 Rock and Parks cally acclaimed show, Master of and Recreation, respectively, – None, and his bestseller Modand movie to their name. Amy ern Romance. Trevor Noah, Schumer is a stand-up comedithe first African American an who has expanded her porthost of the popular satire folio with the sketch comedy program, The Daily Show, series Inside Amy Schumer has exceeded the expectaand the movie Trainwreck. All tions of audiences by addof these female comedians ing diversity to a previously are opening the doors, “white-male club.” These comediblazing the trail for ans are redefining what it means to be to come.

Mindy Ka- othersSaid a comedian in Hollywood today.

Comedy Female comedians have also become inHour member ling is the COURTESY OF DISNEY creasingly prolific. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Amy Abbey Eklund, first Indian Schumer, and Ellen DeGeneres are just a “I think it is really few of this continually growing group. important for fe- American to have males and minoriher own network ties in general to do acting and pursue cashow reers like that, because what makes acting work is being realistic and having people connect to it. If you go outside in the world, you’re not going to see one race or one gender, you’re going to see all of it mixed together.”

Despite the inherent race-based biases within the acting community, these actors have garnered public attention that has brought to light the lack of diversity in the media. The door has been opened, and now it is up to future generations to break down further walls.

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According to Forbes, 25% of comedians are female

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Today’s entertainment industry contains the the most diverse set of actors seen in American history, yet this orientation is a far departure from just a few years ago, in which the comedy world was dominated by an exclusive group of Caucasian men.

Female and minority actors including Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres, Amy Schumer, Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, and COURTESY OF NYMAG Trevor Noah have had to fight an uphill battle for their place in media as a consequence of diverging from the mainstream crowd of actors. These minority and female actors and their shows are experiencing an unheard level of success.

Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari are Indian-American actors who, in recent years, have become prominent members of the comedy community. Despite being a part of a largely underrepresented demographic in Hollywood, these two comedians are breaking boundaries for many others.

Mindy Kaling’s success as an actress and writer in prolific shows like The Office and The Mindy Project have also led to

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Sports 10 DRUG ABUSE ALLEGATIONS PLAGUE RuSSIAN OLYMPIC TEAM February 2, 2016

RISHI NAIR sports assistant

MARK WANG business manager

Information gleaned from a sweeping investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in November revealed the existence of state-sponsored doping in Russian track and field athletics. Since this scandal was first uncovered, the doping issue has swiftly damaged the name of Russian sports, and the many penalties it has incurred have brought track and field, as a whole, into disrepute. Russian track and field even faces disqualification from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

This shocking piece of news claimed special significance due to the controversy that ensued.

Junior Nicolas Kruzman, of Russian descent, was disappointed viewing news of the scandal. “I definitely think doping is wrong and there is good reason all these governing sports federations prohibit it,” Kruzman said.

Not only did the scandal shock the public, it also helped shed light on the issue of doping in the athletics programs of other nations as well.

Russian anti-doping officials have denied the allegations that their athletes have engaged in doping, denouncing that such reports were “unprofessional, illogical and declarative.” However, the WADA has said that it has suspended the Moscow laboratory that was supposed to analyze the test samples of Russian athletes until further notice.

However, Nikita Kamaev, head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency has admitted to the seriousness of the substance abuse problem and insists that his country is eager to fix it. Kamaev, in his report, also claimed that the Moscow laboratory in question was not a part of his bureau.

Several key pieces of the investigation into the laboratory point to the sheer extent of the Russian government’s participation in covering up the ubiquitous incriminating evidence. The lab made a significant effort to cover up the existence of several samples from test results that returned positive for doping.

“I think it just added insult to injury that the government tried to cover up the evidence, because it’s bad enough that the doping occurred in the first place,” Kruzman said.

The FSB, Russia’s secret police, kept a routine eye on the lab and its staff ’s activities, to the point where staff members suspected they were even being monitored through their cell phones and bugs in the lab. According to the investigative report, this constant watch by federal security affected the “impartiality, judgement and integrity of the laboratory.”

“I think that even though spying on the lab workers was personally a breach of their privacy, it was needed to uncover the evidence, and that is what matters,” Kruzman said.

It was perhaps this feeling of insecurity that spurred the lab staff on in the disposal process of key evidence samples. A particularly shocking instance of this arose when lab staff disposed of 1417 test samples that a WADA team had expressly requested be kept safely. All these cover up activities had been authorized by the lab’s director, Grigory Rodchenkov. After investigation, Rodchenkov claimed he had misunderstood the WADA’s directions concerning these specific samples- a claim the WADA does not find plausible.

Alarmingly, the whole operation was carried out using a foundation of bribery and extortion, thus drawing concern to more than just the doping issue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated punishments should be meted out on an individual basis, noting that not all Russian athletes are guilty of doping. Of Putin’s commitment to enforcing penalties, Kruzman said, “It is good to see that there is action being taken to keep athletes from cheating, and I agree that only the offending athletes should be penalized.”

THERE’S NO COACH IN TEAM THE MVP SHOULD BE CHOSEN BY THE PLAYERS, NOT THE COACH LILY MARVIN online assistant

COURTESY OF SARAH ARNOLD

ON POINTE

MELISSA SILVA flipside editor

Any athlete knows how demanding sports can be; sacrifices must often be made for the improvement of one’s athletic performance. Junior Aine Chatterjee was recently faced with the need to make such a sacrifice, radically changing her school schedule in order to accommodate a more flexible practice schedule for ballet.

Said Chatterjee, “We have rehearsals sometimes with the company, and they work during the day, so I have to be available for the rehearsals. I did not want to keep missing school.”

Since September of 2015, Chatterjee has been practicing with the Silicon Valley Ballet School and has been placed in their most advanced level. Starting the beginning of second semester, she has been attending only two classes at school — first and second period — and then returning home to either continue classes with Laurel Springs, an online private school, or prepare for ballet.

In the first semester of her junior year, Chatterjee often had to miss her sixth period class, and occasionally her earlier classes. Chatterjee has sacrificed the majority of her school day to be more available for ballet. However, this change does not mean she has had to quit half her courses. Now, she takes her history, math, and economics classes online and her science and literature classes at school.

Said Chatterjee, “For sciences, it is important to have a classroom for labs so that you can meet UC requirements and things like that. And for literature, I feel like I really get a lot out of being in a classroom.”

Although this new schedule change is best for her current situation, she has had to make some tough adjustments.

“I miss the socializing and talking to people at brunch and lunch. And while the online school has good teachers and you can email them, you don’t have the same sort of interaction,” Chatterjee said. She has also had to give up learning Spanish, as the online school does not offer the class at her level. In place of that, she is taking AP Macroeconomics.

The logistics of test-taking and homework are different for her now as well. For math assignments, she scans her written work to her teacher. Finals are the only test where she goes

As the seasonal sports awards ceremony rolls around, most athletes have their eyes on one award: most valuable player (MVP) of their team. Although the majority of sports have coaches decide the recipient of each award, it would be more appropriate for the players to vote for their team’s MVP. Coaches already have a title they can award based on their own judgement of the team. Not only do players have a different perspective, but allowing players to vote for the MVP also removes the risk of favoritism and the jealousy that comes with it.

At the end of the season, when coaches pass out the awards, MVP is not the only one up for grabs. Coaches provide the Coach’s Award to the player who they feel stood out for their contribution to the team in both skills and effort. Those exact same qualities are just what most would expect of an MVP. Coaches should not give out two awards that are essentially the same. They should select just one player who they believe was pivotal to the success of the team. Then the MVP could be voted on by the players, making the awards a more accurate representation of both the coaches and the players perspective on the season.

Though it would be ideal if the most deserving player received the award, favoritism can play a role in selection. Not only is this incredibly unfair to the other players, but it also often results in jealousy from teammates. Awarding MVP to a player who does not deserve it makes the award itself pointless. Taking the coach of out the equation ensures that all players have an equal chance at receiving MVP. Players voting on the MVP takes favoritism out of the equation and thus protects the integrity of the award.

It has been suggested that having players pick the MVP could turn the award into a popularity contest. This lack of faith in the team is unfounded. Candidates for the award stand out for their skills, attitude and overall effort. Assuming that players would vote for the person that was “most popular” shows a lack of confidence in the maturity of the athletes. By the time players get to the high school level of their sport, they have developed the ability to accurately assess the skills of other players. Using this ability, teammates are able to chose the player that deserves the award and then vote accordingly.

Ultimately, the recipient of the MVP award should be decided by the players. Having an award that represents the perspective of the team removes the jealousy that could result in favoritism without taking away the coach’s right to recognise a player. High school athletes deserve to be heard and should push to change the way MVP is decided. elsewhere to be proctored, although the test is still taken on a computer, with restraints such as keeping only one tab open.

Her normal tests and quizzes are all taken at home, online, offering their own set of challenges.

Said Chatterjee, “It is kind of nerve-wracking because you get to see your scores right away for multiple choice tests.”

The school’s guidance office has been assisting and supporting her unique schooling situation, understanding the importance of her sport and the need for a balanced education.

Said Chatterjee, “They are really willing to let me do this, and I just had to tell them which courses I was taking online, and they were really nice about it. They rearranged my schedule so I could have a first and second for the classes that I wanted.”

Chatterjee has not yet decided what she will do in terms of schooling during her senior year, once she has a better idea of what her ballet schedule will be like next year. As a devoted ballerina, however, Chatterjee is sure to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for her sport.

February 2, 2016

The Prospector

Sports

11

RIO UNPREPARED SUFFERING FROM AN AILING ECONOMY AND CORRUPTION, RIO DE JANEIRO ILL-EQUIPED TO HOST 2016 OLYMPICS AISHWARYA LADDHA lifestyles assistant

JENN ZARATAN flipside editor

Since 2009, when Rio de Janeiro was chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, spectators have been anxiously watching the city undergo transformations in preparation. Faced with serious delays and heavy scrutiny, Rio is struggling to reassure the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes, and viewers that the Olympics will continue to be a memorable event,.

Rio’s predicament drew attention in 2014 when John Coates, Vice President of the IOC, dubbed the 2016 Olympics as the “worst ever”; since then, Rio has made great strides in preparations, but many constructional, environmental, and social obstacles still remain to be hurdled.

An overflow of criticism and subsequent delays emerged particularly after Rio’s decision to host the 2014 World Cup. As another major event requiring significant preparation, it was possibly overly ambitious to undertake the project while in the midst of preparing for the Olympics. Many speculate that this is why buildings such as the aquatic center, tennis courts, shooting range, and equestrian arena are still under construction while athletes are coming to test out the competition grounds.

One of the most pressing issues is the hazardous levels of contamination in Guanabara Bay, the location for Olympic water sports. Scientists from around the world have agreed that the Guanabara Bay is unsuitable for athletes because of the health risks it poses: untreated human sewage and garbage present in the Bay increases the chance of infections due to viruses and bacteria.

Another issue on Rio’s plate is the mass protests occurring in opposition to the Olympics. Construction officials have been accused of forcibly evicting residents of favelas, or slums, in urban areas, to obtain land for Olympic facilities. According to a 2014 study by Popular Committee, an activist group, around 8,000 families have been or are at risk of being removed from their homes.

Faced with criticism, government officials have promised that unlike the London and Beijing Olympics, much of the Olympics arenas will be converted into public facilities.

Brazil’s current economic recession and the estimated 1.9 billion USD cost have also become a concern for the government and its residents. The government has had to tighten expenses, resulting in cuts to aspects such as the Opening Ceremony.

Said junior Charissa Yuen, “[With countries in a worse economic situation], not everything will be as big and extravagant as some of the stronger and more powerful countries, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will not do as good of a job. […] It costs millions of dollars to build the stadiums and all the equipment.”

To make matters worse, Brazil is also facing the worst drought it has seen in half a century, and 80 percent of Brazil’s power comes from hydroelectric plants. Sao Paulo, one of the largest cities in Brazil and in close proximity to Rio, has already been forced to ration water.

The Summer 2016 Olympic Games start in less than seven months and has no alternate plan or venue to rely on, other than the overtly unorganized Rio. At this point, the city, IOC and viewers alike can only hope the Olympics will continue to be an event to remember for years to come.

Said sophomore Rajee Shah, “I think all of the countries have done a great job with the Olympics, but I focus more on the sports and not so much on the venue. [...] After all the war and crisis that has been spreading around recently, it is nice to see that we can still come together and celebrate each other in a huge sporting event such as the Olympics.”

Flip Side

February 2, 2016

12

JANUARY IN PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHUGE LUO

JASON MUNOZ MELISSA SILVA

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

PHYSICS EGG DROP | Junior Rebecca Radle prepares to test her physics honors egg drop project

JASONMUNOZ MUNOZ JASON JASON MUNOZ

MEILINDA SUN

SPEECH AND DEBATE | Student congress finalists pose at the James Logan High School with Coach Marty De

SPIRIT WEEK | Seniors Katherine Tran and Grace Yu dress up in onesies on Good Morning Monday

DANCE | The Golden Spurs perform their competition routine during halftime of the Jan. 22 basketball game

WINTER RALLY | Senior and choreographer Diane Lee performs with the rest of Korean Club at the winter rally

The Dictionary of High School Thoughts

CATHERINE SEOK

Emotions are a tough thing. Sometimes we feel like we are completely alone in our experiences. When even all the languages in the world cannot help us articulate our vaguest thoughts.

In honor of those moments, we created words to fill in that hole. Moments that every high school students just knows.

nisqar

oSHAE

(n)

(n)

a missed encounter with someone who could have been your best friend

the realization that your life has gone by without your active participation

mänsk

caplypsí

(n) that feeling when your answer does not match any of the choices on the test

that feeling between when you drop your phone face down on concrete and when you pick it up to check if it is cracked or not

amisol

(n)

that feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night and realize you still have three more hours before your alarm goes off

(n) the realization that you have finally met the life you have always been chasing iNSPIRED BY THE “DICTIONARY OF OBSCURE SORROWS” BY JOHN KOENIG ALL PHOTOS PROPERTY OF THE PROSPECTOR COMPILED BY MAITHILEE KANTHI

NEXT MONTH: FEBRUARY

Powderpuff

President’s Day

Career Fair

Winter Break

Feb. 3 - Feb. 11 Friday, Feb. 5

Valentines Day Serenades

Friday, Feb. 12

Monday, Feb. 15 Feb. 15 - Feb. 19

10th Grade Parent Night

Thursday, Feb. 25

DANIEL FERTELMEISTER managing editor

(n)

efanánd

what now?

“I’m so lazy; I didn’t even do my math homework.

Hahaha! Senioritis!” Nope, that’s not quite it. Let me explain what senioritis actually is: I’m pretty done at this point. I’ve taken all my standardized tests, finished all my college applications, my sport is no longer in season, I was accepted early to the school of my dreams. When people hear that, they say, “Wow, so you really don’t have to try anymore, huh?” And it’s actually pretty true.

So now I have a lot of free time on my hands! …What now?

I don’t really know. Sit on the couch and wait until September rolls around? What do I do now with the time I used to spend taking practice tests, volunteering at the food bank, going to practice, and endlessly editing my essays?

How do I apply myself to something when I don’t have to do it? How do I push myself to get something done when none of my grades, GPA, or college choices depend on it? I never really learned.

Having spent the past 12 years of life trudging through back-to-back classes, Saturday-morning tests, jobs, long practices, extra-curricular competitions, volunteer hours, and finally college applications, we have finally arrived at the end of a long, arduous road. One that involved many long days and longer nights; one that took every ounce of power any of us had. Some of us are waiting to find out what the next step is; some already know. But almost nobody knows what to do with their time.

Many of my classmates and I are currently living in a quasi-depressive state where the grass is gray and the only answer to the question, “What’ve you been up to?” is a blank stare. The reality is that, having grown up in Cupertino, many of us have spent our childhood and adolescence so intensely focused on a somewhat arbitrary goal that we come out almost shell-shocked on the other side. We were never taught to develop ourselves as people rather than students – to do things for fun or for growth rather than to check a box on a college application. How are we supposed to carry ourselves when the measure of worth that has been most important for the past 12 years – our productivity – is no longer important? How are we supposed to spend our hours of free time when our schedules are no longer packed? The calm feels weird after a hurricane.

Unfortunately, I can’t answer any of those questions because I am, without a doubt, an absolute and shameless sufferer of the true senioritis. I hope that I’m speaking to every other senior who doesn’t know what to do after school when I say that I don’t have a clue either.